CGTrader
A global online marketplace and professional community for buying, selling, and commissioning 3D models.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
CGTrader is a Lithuania-based digital marketplace focused on three-dimensional content and related production services. Founded in Vilnius in 2011 by 3D modeller and entrepreneur Marius Kalytis, the company connects independent artists, design studios, hobbyists, businesses, and other buyers that need digital assets for computer graphics, games, architecture, product visualization, virtual and augmented reality, animation, and 3D printing. Dalia Lasaite joined as a co-founder in 2013 and became the company’s chief executive. The marketplace allows designers to upload models, describe and preview their work, select categories such as computer graphics, low-poly assets, or 3D-printable models, and set prices. Customers can search the catalog, compare available file formats and technical specifications, communicate with creators, negotiate prices, and download purchased files. In addition to off-the-shelf assets, CGTrader supports commissioned work through a job board where customers can post modeling requirements and designers can submit proposals. Some 3D-printing workflows allow users either to purchase a model or stream it to a compatible printing service. CGTrader’s commercial model combines marketplace transactions with creator services and business-oriented visualization tools. Its seller royalty system, described by the company as operating through reputation levels, has historically provided creators with between 70% and 80% of listed or negotiated prices, with rates linked to factors such as model quality, sales, community activity, and reputation. The platform also includes a community area with tutorials, galleries, forums, blog content, and design competitions, making it more than a transactional asset library. The company expanded its product offering in 2019 with CGTrader ARsenal, a tool intended to help online retailers use three-dimensional product visualization in e-commerce. This reflected a broader shift from serving primarily computer-graphics professionals toward supporting commercial applications such as online merchandising, immersive experiences, and digital product presentation. By May 2019, CGTrader reported a catalog of 800,000 3D models and a user base of two million. CGTrader financed its growth through investment from Practica Capital, Intel Capital, Karma Ventures, LVV Group, and Evli Growth Partners. Its financing history includes an initial €185,000 round from Practica Capital in 2013, additional investment from Intel Capital and Practica Capital the same year, a $2.3 million round led by Karma Ventures in 2017, and a $9.5 million Series B round in 2021 led by Evli Growth Partners. Mikael Hed, former chief executive of Rovio, invested privately and joined the company’s board as chairman in connection with the 2021 financing. CGTrader remains a privately held, active company headquartered in Vilnius.
History
CGTrader was established in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2011 by Marius Kalytis, a 3D modeller and entrepreneur. The company was created around the idea of making professionally usable three-dimensional assets easier to discover, purchase, and distribute. Rather than operating only as a software vendor or design studio, CGTrader built a two-sided marketplace in which creators could publish digital models and customers could license or buy them for computer graphics, games, architecture, visualization, virtual and augmented reality, and 3D printing. Dalia Lasaite joined the company as a co-founder in 2013 and later became chief executive. That year CGTrader received an initial €185,000 investment from Practica Capital, a Vilnius-based seed and venture investor. The company also raised additional, undisclosed funding from Intel Capital and Practica Capital. These early investments supported the expansion of the marketplace and its creator base. The platform’s operating model combined catalog sales with direct interaction between buyers and designers. Artists and studios could upload models, provide images and optional video previews, enter technical information, classify assets as computer graphics, low-poly, or 3D-printable content, and establish pricing. Buyers could select among available formats, contact authors, negotiate prices, and in some cases submit bids. Customers that needed original work could publish assignments on a 3D job board and commission custom modeling. Files could be delivered through the platform or by an emailed download link, while certain print-ready assets could be streamed to a 3D printer rather than simply downloaded. CGTrader also developed mechanisms intended to support its creator community. Its royalty system, described for the period beginning September 1, 2016, provided sellers with royalty shares ranging from 70% to 80%, depending on a reputation hierarchy. A creator’s level could be influenced by community participation, referrals, quality ratings, sales, and other platform activity. The company complemented the marketplace with tutorials, user galleries, forums, a blog, and 3D design competitions. In 2015, CGTrader gained visibility through startup competitions. It won the Global Pitch Competition at Latitude59 and received a €30,000 prize, while also winning the Login Startup Fair Pitch Challenge in Vilnius. In 2016, chief executive Dalia Lasaite was recognized by the startup publication Hundert as one of its Top 100 European female entrepreneurs, and Forbes included CGTrader in a selection of ambitious Lithuanian startups. The company raised $2.3 million in 2017 from Karma Ventures to expand the marketplace and improve workflows for designers. Its product direction broadened in May 2019 when it introduced CGTrader ARsenal, a solution for online retailers seeking to display products through three-dimensional visualization. Around the same period, CGTrader reported that its marketplace contained 800,000 models and served two million users, demonstrating growth beyond a small specialist community. In 2021, CGTrader secured a $9.5 million Series B round led by Evli Growth Partners, with participation from repeat investors Karma Ventures and LVV Group. Mikael Hed, the former chief executive of Rovio, made a private investment and joined CGTrader’s board as chairman. The financing was intended to support further marketplace development and growth. CGTrader is described as an active, privately held company headquartered in Vilnius, serving an international market through its digital platform.
- 2021
Series B financing
[1]Evli Growth Partners led a $9.5 million Series B investment joined by Karma Ventures and LVV Group. Mikael Hed invested privately and became board chairman.
- 2019
ARsenal launched and marketplace reaches reported scale
[1]CGTrader launched ARsenal for online retailers and reported a catalog of 800,000 3D models and two million users.
- 2017
Karma Ventures investment
[1]CGTrader raised $2.3 million from Karma Ventures to support marketplace growth and improve designer workflows.
- 2016
Royalty and creator reputation system described
[1]CGTrader’s seller program was reported as offering royalty rates of 70% to 80%, linked to creator reputation and marketplace performance.
- 2015
Startup competition victories
[1]The company won the Global Pitch Competition at Latitude59, including a €30,000 prize, and placed first in the Login Startup Fair Pitch Challenge.
- 2013
Early financing and co-founder joins
[1]CGTrader received an initial €185,000 investment from Practica Capital and additional undisclosed funding involving Intel Capital and Practica Capital. Dalia Lasaite joined as a co-founder.
- 2011
Company founded in Vilnius
[1]Marius Kalytis founded CGTrader in Vilnius as a marketplace and community for 3D models and related digital content.
Products and positioning
A creator-oriented 3D content marketplace combining downloadable digital assets, commissioned modeling, professional community features, and e-commerce visualization tools.
3D digital asset marketplace · 2011
CGTrader Marketplace
CGTrader’s core marketplace enables independent designers, studios, and hobbyists to publish and sell downloadable three-dimensional assets. Listings can include previews, technical specifications, category information, and pricing. Buyers use the catalog for computer graphics, games, architecture, product visualization, virtual and augmented reality, animation, and other digital production workflows. Depending on the creator’s upload, customers can choose among supported file formats and communicate directly with the model author.
3D design services
3D Job Board and Custom Modeling
The job-board service extends CGTrader beyond pre-made assets. Buyers can describe a required model or project, invite proposals, and commission freelance designers or studios to create custom three-dimensional content. This gives customers an alternative to purchasing an existing model when they need a particular product, scene, format, or production specification.
3D-printable digital assets
3D Printing Models
The marketplace includes models prepared for 3D printing. Customers may purchase the digital model itself, and the platform has also described options for streaming print-ready content to a 3D printer. These assets form a distinct category alongside conventional computer-graphics and low-poly models.
Professional design community
CGTrader Community
The community component provides tutorials, designer galleries, blog material, forums, and design competitions. It supports discovery and peer interaction while helping creators present their work and develop skills. The community also contributes to the reputation signals used in the seller royalty system.
E-commerce 3D visualization · 2019
CGTrader ARsenal
ARsenal is a CGTrader offering introduced for online retailers. It is designed to support three-dimensional product visualization in e-commerce, helping merchants present products through richer digital representations and augmented-reality-oriented experiences.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Global Pitch Competition at Latitude59
Estonia · International startup community
CGTrader presented its business at Latitude59’s Global Pitch Competition and won the competition, receiving a €30,000 prize.
Outcome. The victory provided recognition and a €30,000 award.
- 2015Login Startup Fair Pitch Challenge
Lithuania
CGTrader participated in the Login Startup Fair Pitch Challenge in Vilnius as part of its early startup promotion and fundraising profile.
Outcome. The company won first place.
Brand decisions
2021
Raise Series B to expand the marketplaceStrategyBackground
CGTrader sought additional capital for marketplace growth and continued product development.
Action taken
The company raised a $9.5 million Series B led by Evli Growth Partners, with Karma Ventures and LVV Group also participating. Mikael Hed invested privately and joined the board as chairman.
Aftermath
The financing increased the company’s available growth capital and added an experienced technology-sector executive to its board.
Series B financing. $9.5 million (2021)
2019
Launch CGTrader ARsenalProduct launchBackground
Retailers increasingly needed three-dimensional product presentation for online shopping and immersive commerce.
Action taken
CGTrader introduced ARsenal, a product intended to help online retailers use 3D visualization for e-commerce.
Aftermath
The launch broadened CGTrader’s focus from downloadable production assets toward commercial product visualization.
2016
Introduce reputation-linked creator royaltiesStrategyBackground
CGTrader needed a marketplace incentive structure for creators while differentiating established sellers from new participants.
Action taken
The seller program was described as offering royalty rates between 70% and 80%, with levels ranging from Beginner to Legendary and influenced by sales, quality ratings, community activity, referrals, and other reputation signals.
Aftermath
The system aligned creator compensation with platform reputation and marketplace participation.
Seller royalty rate. 70%-80% (From September 1, 2016)
Recent events
- 2021
CGTrader raises $9.5 million Series B[1]
M&A · Leadership change
CGTrader raised $9.5 million in a Series B financing led by Evli Growth Partners, with participation from existing investors Karma Ventures and LVV Group. Mikael Hed also invested privately and joined the board as chairman.
- 2019
CGTrader launches ARsenal for online retailers[1]
Product launch
CGTrader introduced ARsenal, a service designed to help online retailers use 3D product visualization and augmented-reality-style presentation in e-commerce.
- 2019
CGTrader reports 800,000 models and two million users[1]
Other
The company announced that its marketplace had reached 800,000 3D models and two million users.
- 2016
Dalia Lasaite recognized among leading European female entrepreneurs[1]
Other
The startup publication Hundert included CGTrader chief executive Dalia Lasaite in its list of the Top 100 European female entrepreneurs.
- 2016
CGTrader named among ambitious Lithuanian startups[1]
Other
Forbes highlighted CGTrader in a selection of ambitious startups from Lithuania.
- 2015
CGTrader wins Global Pitch Competition and Login Startup Fair awards[1]
Other
CGTrader won the 2015 Global Pitch Competition and received a €30,000 prize at Estonia’s Latitude59 technology event. In the same month, it also took first place in the Login Startup Fair Pitch Challenge in Vilnius.
Sources2 sources
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